Boris Johnson to appoint cabinet as he takes office
The former mayor of London will replace Theresa May as prime minister on Wednesday
Boris Johnson will take over from Theresa May as British prime minister on Wednesday, beginning his task to take the UK out of the EU by October 31.
Mr. Johnson will visit Buckingham Palace for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II in the afternoon before moving into Number 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s residence.
He is expected to appoint pro-Brexit colleagues to senior positions in his cabinet, with sources close to the former foreign secretary saying his top team will reflect “modern Britain”.
Mr. Johnson has already pledged to appoint at least one woman to lead either the Treasury, Foreign Office and Home Office.
Jeremy Hunt, Mr Johnson’s Conservative Party leadership rival, has reportedly turned down an offer to become defence minister, a demotion from his current posting as foreign secretary.
Mr. Hunt won around a third of votes cast in a ballot of Conservative Party members.
Mr. Johnson promised to deliver Brexit during his acceptance speech in London on Tuesday, something current Prime Minister Mrs. May failed to do.
Mrs. May will take questions in the House of Commons as is customary for the UK prime minister on a Wednesday before giving her final speech to the nation.
She will formally give her resignation as prime minister to the Queen before the monarch invites Mr Johnson to form a government.
The former Mayor of London is later expected to make a speech at Downing Street.
Sterling was down against the dollar at $1.2436, on track for its fourth straight day of losses and edging closer to $1.2382, the two-year low brushed last week, as the spectre of a no-deal Brexit was raised.
Mr. Johnson is expected to put hardline Brexiters in top positions, with The Times reporting that former international development secretary Priti Patel would be appointed as home secretary.
Ms. Patel was sacked from her ministerial position in 2017 after it was revealed she had conducted secret meetings with the Israeli government.
Gavin Williamson, another former minister fired by Mrs. May, was said to be unhappy after he was reportedly offered the position of housing minister.
Sajid Javid, who ran against Mr Johnson in the Conservative leadership contest, is believed to be on course to become finance minister.
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